VISUALLY CAPTURING AND MONITORING CONTENTS AND EVENTS OF CARGO CONTAINER
A system for visually capturing and monitoring the contents and events surrounding a cargo container is provided. The system includes a camera such as a digital camera or still camera.
1 . (canceled)
2 . An imaging system for monitoring contents of and events surrounding a cargo container, the system comprising: an image capture device; a control element for controlling an image capture function and analyzing received image data; and an image processing element that executes algorithms, the execution of the algorithms providing a machine interpretation of the captured image data.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the image capture device comprises a CCD (charge coupled device).
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the control element comprises: a micro-processor element; a non-volatile memory storage element capable of storing multiple images captured by the image capture device; a communications element capable of receiving command messages, and reporting events, status, and captured images to other control or communications components outside the image capture system.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the control element functions may be performed on a device which is shared among other multiple control and processing functions for the container monitoring and security system.
6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the image processing element comprises a digital signal processor element capable of performing simple image processing.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the image processing functions may be performed on the same physical device as the control element.
8 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the image capture device is mounted on the interior side of the container.
9 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the control element and image processing element are co-located by the image sensor, or situated in a area with other electronics for the container monitoring and security system.
10 . A method for capturing images in a container system comprising: placing a container imaging system in standby mode; implementing a control element for commanding an image capture device to capture and store images; if the image capture device senses a change in light, transitioning into alarm mode and implementing the control element to command the image capture device to capture and store images.
11 . An imaging system for monitoring contents of and events surrounding a cargo container, the system comprising: a camera; a control element for controlling a camera function and processing received image data; and an image processing element that executes algorithms, the execution of the algorithms providing a machine interpretation of the captured image data.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the camera comprises a video camera.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the camera captures images in the visible light spectrum.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the camera captures images in the infrared light spectrum.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control element comprises: a micro-processor element; a non-volatile memory storage element capable of storing data captured by the camera; a communication device capable of receiving command messages, and reporting events, status, and captured images to gateways, mobile gateways, a wide area network (WAN) and/or a server-based application outside the image capture system.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the control element functions may be performed on a keyhole communication device which is shared among other multiple control and processing functions for the container monitoring and security system.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the camera is mounted on the interior side of the container door.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control element and image processing element are co-located by the camera, or situated in a area with other electronics for the container monitoring and security system.